Control system for change-making mechanism in vending machines and the like



May 25, 1965 A. R. GROSS 3,185,281

CONTROL-SYSTEM FOR CHANGE-MAKING MECHANISM IN VENDING MACHINES AND THE LIKE Filed Jan. 29, 1962 w INVENTOR. 56 Aer/7 m? P. 620:5

United States Patent 3,185,281 CONTRDL SYSTEM FOR CHANGE-MAKING MECHANESM 1N VENDING MACEEQES AND THE LIKE Arthur R. Gross, 301 Chestnut St., St. Paul 2, Minn. Filed Jan. 29, 1962, S81. No. 169,433 3 Claims. (Cl. 1942) My present invention relates generally to coin controlled machines for dispensing articles of merchandise, and more particularly to novel control circuit means for controlling mechanism for dispensing change to an operator when a coin of a denomination greater than the cost of the selected article is inserted into the coin receiving mechanism of a vending machine.

More specifically, my invention is in the nature of an improvement on machines of the type disclosed in my prior United States Letters Patent No. 2,693,299, issued November 2, 1954, and incorporates the change making mechanism disclosed in my United States Letters Patent 2,848,003, issued August 19, 1958.

Heretofore, in producing vending machines for dispensing articles some of which are ditferently priced than others, and incorporating change making mechanism, a definite problem has existed in that these machines required a highly complex electrical control system which is expensive and difl'icult to install, and the servicing of which is extremely involved and costly. Hence, many vending machines dispense with the use of a change making mechanism, and require the user to insert the cor rect change into the coin receiving slots of the machine for each selected article.

The primary object of my invention is the provision of novel and highly simplified circuit means by which a vending machine may be utilized to dispense selected articles of merchandise of various prices responsive to reception of a coin of a predetermined denomination greater than the price of the selected article, and to dispense the correct change to the user.

Another object of my invention is the provision of circuit means as set forth, in which different ones of a plurality of conductors are each utilized selectively in a plurality of difierent circuits energized according to the article selection made by the user.

Another object of my invention is the provision of novel means for resetting the change dispensing mechanism upon failure of the machine to deliver selected merchandise.

Still another object of my invention is the provision of circuit means including a control coil for a coin return mechanism and operatively associated with the resetting means for the change dispensing mechanism, whereby the coin deposited by the user is returned upon failure of the machine to deliver the selected article.

The above, and still further highly important objects and advantages of my invention will become apparent from the following detailed specification, appended drawing and attached claims.

The single figure of the drawing is a wiring diagram, mechanical components being also shown diagrammatically.

A reciprocatory carriage, shown diagrammatically by dotted lines, and indicated by the numeral 1, partakes of delivery and return movements, as shownby arrows in the drawing. Reciprocatory movement is imparted to the carriage 1 by a conventional electric motor 2 through the medium of a crank 3 mounted on the drive shaft 4 of the motor 2, a pitman arm 5 connected at one end to the crank 3, and a lever 6, the crank 3, pitman arm 5, and lever 6 being shown by dotted lines. The

intermediate portion of the lever 6 is pivotally connected to the other end of the pitman arm 5, one end of the 3,185,281 Patented May 25, 1965 lever 6 being pivotally connected 'to the carriage 1, and the other end being pivotally mounted to a station ary portion of the dispensing machine, as indicated at 7. Suitably mounted in the carriage 1 are selector devices in the nature of solenoids 8-15 each involving a coil 16 and an axially movable armature 17. Each selector solenoid is positioned to move beneath a different one of a plurality of rows or vertically disposed stacks of packaged articles, such as cigarettes, during delivery and return movements of the carriage 1; and each of the solenoids 8-15 is adapted to be energized to impart upward movement to its respective armature 17, the upper end portion of each armature 17 being disposed, when in a raised position, to engage an article of merchandise in its respective row thereof to dispense said article during delivery movement of the carriage 1. For the purpose of the present example, the shaft 4 of the motor 2 partakes of one complete revolution for each cycle of delivery and return movement of the carriage 1. The above described mechanism is fully disclosed in my prior US. Patent 2,693,299, reference being had thereto. Inasmuch as the above-described structure does not, in and of itself, comprise the instant invention, further detailed showing and description thereof is omitted, in the interest of brevity.

The control portion of the change-making mechanism disclosed in my above-identified United States Patent No. 2,848,003 is indicated generally at 18, and involves a rotary timing drum 19 driven by a motor 20 through the medium of an electrically operated clutch 21. The timing drum 19 is provided with a plurality of circumferentially and axially spaced lugs 22-25. The change making mechanism further includes control solenoids 26, 27, 28 and 29 each involving a coil 30 and an axially movable armature 31, said armatures 31 each being movable into and out of the path of travel of a respective one of the lugs 22-25. Each of the armatures 31 eX- tends through a respective one of a plurality of slot-like 1 openings 32 in a switch operating bar 33 that is suitably mounted for vertical movements, the armatures 31 being provided with cam surfaces 34 by means of which the operating bar 33 is raised responsive to e'nergization of any one of the solenoids 26-29. The upper end of the switch operating bar 33 operatively engages a movable switch contact element 35 which normally engages a cooperating switch contact element 36 when the armatures 31 are in their retracted positions shown. Energization of any one of the control solenoids 26-29 causes the switch operating bar 33 to be raised to move the switch contact element 35 into engagement with a second contact element 37, for a purpose which will hereinafter be described. The structure of the change making mechanism 18 is fully shown and described in my aboveidentified Patent 2,848,003, and further detailed description thereof is not deemed necessary. It should suflice to state that, when the clutch 21 is energized, the motor 20 is uncoupled from the timing rotor 19, deenergization of the clutch 20 causing the rotor 19 to be coupled to the drive shaft of the motor 20, to be driven thereby.

The present circuit involves a two-position switch 38 carried by the carriage 1, a normally open switch 39 and a two-position switch 40, the switches 39 and 40 being controlled by the motor 2. The switch 38 involves a relatively movable contact element 41 and relatively stationary contact elements 42 and 43, the switch 40 comprising a movable contact element 44 and stationary contact elements 45 and-46. The switches 39 and 40 are operatively coupled to cams 47 and 48 respectively, said cams being mounted on the motor shaft 4 for common rotation therewith. A two-position switch 49 is suitably mounted in the machine to be actuated by actual delivery of an. article of merchandise by the machine. The switch 49 comprises a movable switch contact element normally engaging a cooperating stationary contact element 51 and movable into engagement with a second stationary contact element 52.

The preferred embodiment of my present circuit means is adapted to be energized from a conventional source of electrical potential by means of a pair of power conductors 53 and 54. A coin operated momentary contact switch 55 is interposed in; a circuit comprising a portion of a lead 56 that extends from the conductor 53 to the movable contact element 41 of the switch 38, the switch 55 being interposed in a lead 57 connected at one end to the lead 56, and extending to the conductor 54. V A relay coil 58 is also interposed in the lead 57 and is'energized by closing of the coin operated switch 55, the relay coil 58 being held energized through a holdingrcircuit including the lead 56, contact elements 41 and 42 of the switch 38, a lead 59 extending from the contact element 42 of the switch 33, and the contact elements 44 and 46 of the cam operated switch 40, a portion of a lead 69 connected at one end to the contact element 46 and in which is interposed a normally open switch 71 that is closed by energization of the relay coil 58, a lead 61 in which is interposed a holding switch 62 operated by the relay coil 58, and a portion of lead 57. Energization of the relay coil 63, 64, 65 and 66, each operatively associated with a respective one of the control solenoids 26, 27, 28 and 29. The coils 39 of the control solenoids 2629 are interposed in series arrangement with their respective switches 63-66 in leads 67, 68, 69 and 70 connected at one end to the lead 60.

The coils v16 of eachrof the selector solenoids 8-15 are each connected to a selected one of the loads 60 and 67- 70 by means of respective leads 7279, in which leads are interposed respective momentary contact selector switches 80-87. For the purpose of the present example, it will be seen thatthe leads 72 and 77 are connected to the lead 70, the leads 73 and 78 being connected to the lead 69, the leads 74 and 79 being connected to the lead 63, and the leads 75 and 76 being connected to the leads 67 and 66 respectively. It will be noted that the coils 16 of the selector solenoids 8-15, respectively, are interposed in their respective leads 72-79, the other ends of the leads 72- 79 being connected to a common lead 83 that extends? to t the conductor 54. With the above arrangement, and after the relay coil 58 has been energized by coin closing of the momentary contact switch 55, closing of any one of the selector switches 87 with the exception of switch 84, will close a circuit through the coil 30 of a respective one of the control solenoids 26, 27, 28 and 29. As anexample, closing of the selector switch 87 completes a circuit including the lead 56, switch contact elements 41 and 42, lead 59, switch contact elements 44 and 46, a portion of lead 60, lead 68, the coil 30 of control solenoid 27, switch 64, lead 79, and coil 16 of the selector solenoid 15, and lead 88. It should be here noted that the armatures -17 of the selector solenoids 8-15 are each provided with flanges 89 all of which engage a mechanical link connected to the switch 38 in a manner to cause the movable contact element 41 to move out of engagement of the contact element 42 and into engagement with the contact element 43 when any of the selector solenoid coils 16 are energized. The mechanical linkage is clearly shown and described in my prior Patent 2,693,299, and is indicated in the drawing of the instant application by a broken line 90. As clearly disclosed in said Patent 2,693,- 299, when the carriagel is moved to its limit of delivery travel, the linkage 91) is mechanically moved to cause the movable switch contact element 41 to move away from engagement with the contact element 43 and into engagement with the contact element 42.

By way of illustration, it may be assumed that the coin V operated switch 55 is subject to closing only by a fifty cent coin, that the selector solenoid 12 is operative to cents. When the switch 55 is momentarily closed by a '25 58 effects closing of a plurality of normally open switches select an article valued at fifty cents, that the selector I solenoid 11 is operative to select an article valued at forty-five cents, that the solenoids 1t) and 15 'are operative to select different articles valued at forty cents, that the contact elements 44 and 46, leads 60 and 76, switch 71 and lead 88, energizing the solenoid 12. It will be noted that, when the selector switch 84 is closed, none of the control solenoids 2629 of the change making mechanism 18 are included in the circuit, there being no necessity for delivery'of change to the operator. 7

The contact element 43 of the switch 38 is connected to one end of a lead 91 that extends to the contact element 45 of the switch .40. The motor 2 is interposed in a circuit comprising the lead 56, contact elements 41 and 43 of the switch 38, a portion of lead 91, and a lead 92 connected at one end to the lead 91 and at its other end to the lead 88, the motor 2 :being interposed in the lead 92. The switch 39 is interposed in a lead 93 that extends from the lead 91"to the movable contact clement 50'of the switch 49; and the contact element 51 of the switch 49 is connected to one endof a lead 94 in which is interposed the coil of a reset solenoid 95 to the armature 96 of which is mounted an elongated res'etrnember 97 that is adapted to retract all of the armatures 3170f the control solenoids 2629 responsive to energization of the reset solenoid 95, the lead 94- being connected to the conductor 54 by a portion of lead 57. The contact element 52 of the switch 49 is connected to the lead 88 by a lead 98 in which is interposed an acceptance relay coil 99, the purpose of which will hereinafter be described.

The switch contact element 37. of the change-making mechanism 18 comprises a portion of the circuit, for the motor 20, said motor :20 being interposed in a lead 100 that is connected at one end-to the contact element 37 and at its opposite end to the lead 57. The switch contact element 36 is connected to one end of a lead 101 in which is interposed the electrically operated clutch 21, the op posite end of the lead 101 being connected to the lead 57. The movable switch contact element 35 is connected to one end of a lead 2102 that is connected at its other end to the lead 88, and in which is interposed the coil of a control relay 103 which, when energized, closes a normally open switch 104. One side of the switch 104 is connected to lead 91 by a lead 165, the opposite side of the switch 104 being connected to the lead 98 by a lead 106 and to the coil of the control relay 103 by a short lead 107 and a portion of lead 162. As will hereinafter be described, the switch 104 forms part of a holding circuit for the control relay 166.. Further involved in the circuitry is an operating coil 2168 for controlling coin return mechanism, not shown, the coil 103 being interposed in a lead 109 that is connected at one end to the lead 94, and at its other end to the lead 88.

As above described, closing of the switch 55 by a suitable coin, for instance, a fifty cent piece, energizes the control relay 58 to close the switches 71 and 62-66, the relay coil 58 being held energized by closing of the holding switch 62 that is interposed in a circuit comprising the lead 56, switch contact element's 41 and 42,.

the lead 59, switch contact elements 44 and 46, a portion of lead 60, and leads 61 and 57. It will be here noted, and as clearly disclosed in my prior Patent 2,693,- 299, that when a coin is received in the machine, it is held in a suitable receptacle during the vending operation of the machine and until it is determined whether or not the selected merchandise has been delivered by the delivery mechanism. Then, as will hereinafter be more fully described, either the coinacceptance mechanism operating coil 99 or the coin return mechanism operating coil 168 will be energized to properly dispose of the deposited coin. Utilizing the above described values for merchandise to be dispensed, and assuming that the operator selects an article the delivery of which is controlled by the selector solenoid 14, the operator momentarily closes the selector switch 86 to energize the coil 16 of the selector solenoid 14 to cause raising movements to be imparted to the armature 17 thereof, the linkage 90 moving the contact element 41 into engagement with its cooperating switch contact element 43 and holding the said armature 17 in a raised position as fully disclosed in my prior Patent 2,693,299. Closing of the switch contact elements 41-43 completes a circuit through the drive motor 2 to cause delivery movement to be imparted to the delivery carriage 1, this circuit including the lead 56, switch contact elements 41 and 43, the lead 91, lead 92 and a portion of lead 88. Closing of the switch 86 further momentarily energizes the coil of the control solenoid 28 to move the end of the armature 31 thereof into the path of rotary travel of its respective lug 24 on the timing rotor 19. This movement of the armature 31 of control solenoid 28 raises the switch operating bar 33 to move the movable switch contact element 35 out of engagement with the stationary contact element 36 and into engagement with the contact element 37. When the carriage 1 nears the limit of its delivery movement, the switch contact element 5%) of the switch 49 is caused to move into engagement with its cooperating contact element 52, by delivery movement of the selected article. At the same time, the cam 47 closes the switch 39 to establish a circuit comprising the lead 56, contact elements 41 and 43 of the switch '38, a portion of lead 91, leads 93 and 98, the acceptance mechanism operating coil 99, and a 7 portion of lead 88. Simultaneously, the control relay coil 163 is energized to close the switch 164 to establish a holding circuit for the relay coil 103 and to establish a circuit comprising the lead 56, contact elements 41 and 43, a portion of lead 91, leads 1G5 and 102, contact elements and 37, lead 1%, and a portion of lead 57, whereby to energize the change-making mechanism drive motor 2!). At this point it will be noted that the circuit through the clutch 21 is broken so that the clutch is engaged and the timing rotor 19 is rotated by the motor 29, all as disclosed in my prior Patent 2,848,003. The timing rotor 19 rotates until the lug 24 thereof en gages the adjacent end of the armature 31 of the control solenoid 28 to retract the same and to permit lowering of the switch operating bar 33 whereupon the switch contact element 35 will move out of engagement with the contact element 37 to deenergize the motor 29, and into engagement with the switch contact element 36 to energize the clutch 21 to cause disengagement thereof. During rotation of the timing rotor 19, the change-making mechanism 18 dispenses the proper number of coins to give the operator the correct change, in this case three five-cent coins. During rotation of the timing rotor 19, energization of the coil 99 causes the deposited fifty cent coin to be deposited in a suitable receptacle therefor.

When the carriage 1 reaches the limit of its delivery movement, and after delivery of the selected merchandise, the linkage 96 is mechanically operated, as indicated in my prior Patent 2,693,299, to move the movable contact element 41 out of engagement with the contact element 43 and into engagement with the contact element 42. In the meantime, the cam 48 has rotated to its position wherein the contact element 4-4 of the switch 4% is moved out of engagement with its cooperating contact element 46 and into engagement with the contact element to establish a holding circuit for the motor 2, this circuit comprising the lead 56, switch contact elements 41 and 42, lead 59, switch contact elements 44 and 45, a portion of lead 91, and leads 92 and 88. It will be here noted that, during delivery movement of the carriage 1 and when the contact element 44 is out of engagement with the contact element 46, the circuit to the relay coil 58 is broken, thus causing the switches 62-66 thereof to assume their normally open position. With this arrangement, the relay coil 58 is energized only for the short space of time required to close the selected selector switch and for the motor 2 to advance the carriage 1 to its delivery position. As the carriage 1 returns to its return or retracted position, the switch 39 is opened by the cam 47, thus breaking the holding circuit through the control relay 103, the cam 43 moving the contact element 44 of the switch 4% out of engagement with the contact element 45 and into engagement with the contact element 46, deenergizing the motor 2 whereupon the machine is ready for a subsequent cycle of operation.

The switch 49 is of a type wherein the movable contact element 59 thereof is normally in engagement with the stationary contact element 5'1 thereof and, when the selected article of merchandise has been delivered, the contact e ement 50 will automatically move out of engagement with the contact element 51 and into engagement with the contact element 52. In the event that the supply of articles associated with the selected selector solenoid, in this case the solenoid 14, is exhausted, closing of the switch 55 by a deposited coin will cause the selector solenoid 14 to be energized upon closing of its respective selector switch 86 with resultant energization of its respective control solenoid 28, and the drive motor 2 will be energized to impart delivery and return movements to the carriage 1. However, as the carriage 1 approaches the limit of its delivery movement, the absence of the selected article will allow the contact element 50 of the switch 49 to remain in engagement with its cooperating contact element 51. Hence, the control relay 103 will not be energized, nor will the motor 20 of the changemaking mechanism 18 be energized. In this situation, when the carriage 1 reaches its limit of delivery travel, the cam 47 will close the switch 39, establishing a circuit comprising lead 56, switch contact elements 41 and 43, a portion of lead 91, lead 93, and leads 94, 169 and 88, to energize the coil 108 to cause the deposited coin to be returned to the operator. At the same time, the reset solenoid becomes energized to retract the armature 31 of the solenoid 28 to prevent undue rotation of the timing rotor 19 during a subsequent cycle of operation. Obviously, should this armature not be retracted, and the next operator select a more expensive article of merchandise, the timing rotor 19 will continue to rotate until the operating bar 33 is permitted to drop, and the customer or operator will receive more change than that to which he is entitled.

It will be appreciated that but a single wire or lead for each price classification is required between the changemaking mechanism 18 and the selector switches 86-87; and that as many selector solenoids and their respective selector switches may be connected toany one of the leads 60 and 67-79 as may be desired. Thus, within a given price range, almost any number of different articles of merchandise may be dispensed without increasing the number of leads between the selector switches and the change-making mechanism.

It will be further understood that, while the circuit as shown and described above is controlled by a single coin operated switch, the invention further contemplates control or energization of the circuit by other coin operated means responsive to insertion of a plurality of coins of smaller value but totaling an amount equal to that which operates the coin operated switch 55. For example, if the switch 55 is operated by a fifty-cent coin, additional means may be used, which requires the use of two twentyfive cent coins, to establish the energizing circuit otherwise established by closing of the switch 55.

While I have shown and described a commercial embodiment of my novel circuit and arrangement, it will be understood that the same is capable of modification without departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, as defined in the claims.

What I claim is: 1. A control system for a vending machine for dispensing articles of merchandise of different price classifications, said system comprising,

(a) coin-operated mechanism including a control device therefor adapted to be operated by coinage of predetermined value greater than that requiredfor any one of said articles to energize said mechanism,

(12) change making mechanism including a motor for delivery of change to the purchaser in coinage of value determined by the difference between the price of the selected article and the denomination of said coinage of predetermined value received by the coin operated mechanism,

() a plurality of article selector devices each operatively associated with a difierent one of a plurality of groups of articles and each operatively engageable 'with an article to be dispensed'from its respective group, to dispense said article,

(d) a plurality of selector switches each controlling a different one of said selector devices,

(e) article delivery mechanism responsive to delivery of coinage of said predetermined value to said coin operated mechanism and closing of a selected one of said selector switches to energize its respective selector device to engage and dispense the selected article,

(1) conductor leads connecting each of said selector switches to a different one of said selector devices,

(g) a common conductor for connecting all of said selector devices to one of a pair of cooperating power lines, a

(h) control means for said motor including, a motor switch, a plurality of control solenoid coils each having an armature and each corresponding to a different one of said price classifications less than said coinage of predetermined value, means operatively connecting the armatures of said control solenoid coils to said motor switch to close said motor switch responsive to energization of any one of said control solenoid coils, and means operatively coupled to said motor and including said armatures to cause opening of the motor switch responsive to predetermined change-producing operation of said motor,

(i) a common conductor for connecting one end of each of said control solenoid coils to the other one of said pair of power lines,

(j) and individual leads connecting the other ends of said solenoid coils each to at least one of said selector switches, the arrangement being such that all of the selector switches controlling the dispensing of dififerent articles of equal price less than said coinage of predetermined value are connected to a given one of said solenoid coils, whereby a single lead between a given one of said control solenoid coils and its respective selector switches is included in a plurality of circuits corresponding to the number of selector switches connected by said single lead to said given one of the control solenoid coils,

(k) closing of a selected one of said selector switches operatively associated with said control solenoids providing a circuit comprising said selected selector switch, its respective selector device, and a given one of said control solenoid coils in series connection.

2. The structure defined in claim 1 in further combination with electrically operated means for resetting the armatures of said control solenoids responsive to delivery movement of said article delivery mechanism and failure thereof to deliver said merchandise during said movement,

said means comprising a circuit including,

(a) a normally closed switch adapted to be opened by merchandise delivered by said delivery mechanism,

(1;) a normally open switch adapted to be closed responsive to closing of a selected one of said selector switches;

(c) a normally open switch adapted to be closed by said delivery mechanism during delivery movement thereof,

(d) and a reset solenoid coil operatively connected to said control solenoid coils and having an armature operatively engaging the control solenoid armatures to render the same inoperative to close said motor switch responsive to energization of said reset solenoid coil,

(e) said reset solenoid coil and said normally open switches and normally closed switch being disposed in series connection, whereby to energize said reset solenoid coil to render said change-making mechanism inoperative.

3. The structure defined in claim 2 in further combination with a coin return mechanism control coil inter posed in the last named circuit in series with said normally open switches and said normally closed switch and in parallel with said reset solenoid coil for causing the deposited coinage to be returned to the operator upon failure of the delivery mechanism to deliver the selected article.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,055,544 9/62 Krakauer et al. 221-14 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,139,829 2/57 France.

RAPHAEL M. LUPO, Primary Examiner.

KENNETH N. LEIMER, Examiner. 

1. A CONTROL SYSTEM FOR A VENDING MACHINE FOR DISPENSING ARTICLES OF MERCHANDISE OF DIFFERENT PRICE CLASSIFICATIONS, SAID SYSTEM COMPRISING, (A) COIN-SEPARATED MECHANISM INCLUDING A CONTROL DEVICE THEREFOR ADAPTED TO BE OPERATED BY COINAGE OF PREDETERMINED VALUE GREATER THAN THAT REQUIRED FOR ANY ONE OF SAID ARTICLES TO ENERGIZE SAID MECHANISM, (B) CHANGE MAKING MECHANISM INCLUDING A MOTOR FOR DELIVERY OF CHANGE TO THE PURCHASER IN COINAGE OF VALUE DETERMINED BY THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE PRICE OF THE SELECTED ARTICLE AND THE DENOMINATION OF SAID COINAGE OF PREDETERMINED VALUE RECEIVED BY THE COINOPERATED MECHANISM. (C) A PLURALITY OF ARTICLE SELECTOR DEVICES EACH OPERATIVELY ASSOCIATED WITH A DIFFERENT ONE OF A PLURALITY OF GROUPS OF ARTICLES AND EACH OPERATIVELY ENGAGEABLE WITH AN ARTICLE TO BE DISPENSED FROM ITS RESPECTIVE GROUP, TO DISPENSE SAID ARTICLE, (D) A PLURALITY OF SELECTOR SWITCHES EACH CONTROLLING A DIFFERENT ONE OF SAID SELECTOR DEVICES, (E) ARTICLE DELIVERY MECHANISM RESPONSIVE TO DELIVERY OF COINAGE OF SAID PREDETERMINED VALUE TO SAID COIN OPERATED MECHANISM AND CLOSING OF A SELECTED ONE OF SAID SELECTOR SWITCHES TO ENERGIZE ITS RESPECTIVE SELECTOR DEVICE TO ENGAGE AND DISPENSE THE SELECTED ARTICLE, (F) CONDUCTOR LEADS CONNECTING EACH OF SAID SELECTOR SWITCHES TO A DIFFERENT ONE OF SAID SELECTOR DEVICES, (G) A COMMON CONDUCTOR FOR CONNECTING ALL OF SAID SELECTOR DEVICES TO ONE OF A PAIR OF COOPERATING POWER LINES, (H) CONTROL MEANS FOR SAID MOTOR INCLUDING, A MOTOR SWITCH, A PLURALITY OF CONTROL SOLENOID COILS EACH HAVING AN ARMATURE AND EACH CORRESPONDING TO A DIFFERENT ONE OF SAID PRICE CLASSIFICATIONS LESS THAN SAID COINAGE OF PREDETERMINED VALUE, MEANS OPERATIVELY CONNECTING THE ARMATURES OF SAID CONTROL SOLENOID COILS TO SAID MOTOR SWITCH TO CLOSE SAID MOTOR SWITCH RESPONSIVE TO ENERGIZATION OF ANY ONE OF SAID CONTROL SOLENOID COILS, AND MEANS OPERATIVELY COUPLED TO SAID MOTOR AND INCLUDING SAID ARMATURES TO CAUSE OPENING OF THE MOTOR SWITCH RESPONSIVE TO PREDETERMINED CHANGE-PRODUCING OPERATION OF SAID MOTOR, (I) A COMMON CONDUCTOR FOR CONNECTNG ONE END OF EACH OF SAID CONTROL SOLENOID COILS TO THE OTHER ONE OF SAID PAIR OF POWER LINES, (J) AND INDIVIDUAL LEADS CONNECTING THE OTHER ENDS OF SAID SOLENOID COILS EACH TO AT LEAST ONE OF SAID SELECTOR SWITCHES, THE ARRANGEMENT BEING SUCH THAT ALL OF THE SELECTOR SWITCHES CONTROLLING THE DISPENSING OF DIFFERENT ARTICLES OF EQUAL PRICE LESS THAN SAID COINAGE OF PREDETERMINED VALUE ARE CONNECTED TO A GIVEN ONE OF SAID SOLENOID COILS, WHEREBY A SINGLE LEAD BETWEEN A GIVEN ONE OF SAID CONTROL SOLENOID COILS AND ITS RESPECTIVE SELECTOR SWITCHES IS INCLUDED IN A PLURALITY OF CIRCUITS CORRESPONDING TO THE NUMBER OF SELECTOR SWITCHES CONNECTED BY SAID SINGLE LEAD TO SAID GIVEN ONE OF THE CONTROL SOLENOID COILS, (K) CLOSING OF A SELECTED ONE OF SAID SELECTOR SWITCHES OPERATIVELY ASSOCIATED WITH SAID CONTROL SOLENOIDS PROVIDING A CIRCUIT COMPRISING SAID SELECTED SELECTOR SWITCH, ITS RESPECTIVE SELECTOR DEVICE, AND A GIVEN ONE OF SAID CONTROL SOLENOID COILS IN SERIES CONNECTION. 